Panera plans Union restaurant outside Kroger Marketplace

Panera Bread Co. is the newest player to take advantage of technology and start delivery service.
Michael L. Diamond

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Panera Bread will open a new restaurant in Union, Kentucky on a lot by the Kroger Marketplace on U.S. 42 The chain recently opened a new Green Township restaurant, pictured, in April 2018 at 5104 Harrison Ave.(Photo: The Enquirer/Forrest Sellers)Buy Photo

Panera

The new Panera will have drive-thru service. Whether a Union Panera will offer delivery service is unknown.

Panera will be one of two tenants in Anchor Retail Solutions' 5,000-square-foot building at 9075 U.S. 42, Union, where construction crews are busy moving some dirt, Plummer said.

The other tenant for the Anchor Retail Solutions building is not yet known, he said.

Panera has not announced an opening date. Panera media relations did not respond to a request for further comment.

Sugarfire

Edgewood native Jim Schwartz is coming back to Northern Kentucky from the St. Louis area to open the first Sugarfire franchise in the Cincinnati area in Union.

"We are shooting for Feb. 1, 2019, opening," said the Union franchise owner.

Sugarfire was started in 2012 in St. Louis where there are seven restaurants now. The first Sugarfire outside of St. Louis opened in April in Indianapolis. A Sugarfire in Denver opened in June. Sugarfire plans to open in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in August.

Sugarfire will be one of six tenants in the 13,697-square-foot building by Kroger Marketplace in Union.

The barbecue restaurant will seat 60 people inside and 30 people outside, he said.

People will be able to buy alcohol to drink at Sugarfire. A full-time chef at the Union restaurant will direct a rotating menu, Schwartz said.

The five hot and five cold daily side dishes offered will change every day, he said.

Diners will watch a brisket cut while in line and choose their own toppings and sides, Schwartz said.

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Kroger Marketplace at 9005 U.S. 42, Union opened to the public Sept. 14, 2017.(Photo: The Enquirer/Chris Mayhew)